Note:Complete dissolution of the PVOH required a longer amount of stirring(~2hours) and the addition of more deionized H2<sub/>O. To prompt complete dissolution, solutions were transferred to larger beakers(~50mL) with larger amounts of H2<sub/>O.

Crosslinking PVOH Films

Standard Protocol for Crosslinking of films:

Weigh out ~0.2 grams of film

Place measured film in round metal tray

Place tray in oven at ~120 degrees C for 90 minutes

Crosslinked PVOH Films:

PVOH(MW 22,000) with 15 wt% maleic acid

PVOH (MW 22,000) with 15 wt% succinic acid

Solubility of PVOH Films

General Protocol:

Place ~0.1g of film to be tested in a 100mL beaker.

Add a stir bar to the beaker

Place plastic mesh above the film and stir bar

Using a plastic pipette(s) to hold down the plastic mesh, add ~75mL of deionized H2<sub/>O to the beaker.

Allow the film to completely dissolve

Gently stir the solution only with the stir plate. DO NOT add heat

Once the film is completely dissolved, test the viscosity of the solution three times

Viscosity of uncrosslinked PVOH(MW 22,000) 15wt% maleic acid

Trial

Time [s]

1

246.67

2

253.48

3

250.68

Average time:250.28 s

DSC on PVOH Films

DSC will be used to determine the different thermal transitions of the various films